List of shehus of Bornu

The shehu was the ruler of the late Kanem–Bornu Empire, at this stage often referred to as just Bornu or Borno, from 1846 to the end of the empire in 1902. The shehus belonged to the al-Kameni dynasty, the descendants of the scholar and military leader Muhammad al-Amin al-Kanemi, who became the first shehu in 1809. Al-Kameni became the effective ruler of Bornu in the aftermath of the Fula jihads, supplanting the power of the earlier line of rulers. The mai continued to be a figurehead ruler until 1846, when the last mai was killed and al-Kanemi's son Umar Kura assumed full power over the empire.
After 1902, the line of shehus has continued to rule the non-sovereign Borno Emirate in Nigeria, one of the country's traditional states. The shehu continues to serve as a ceremonial leader, preserving political and cultural continuity with the Kanem–Bornu Empire. Junior branches of the family also serve as shehus of the Dikwa Emirate and the Bama Emirate.

Numbering

The shehus are numbered after uninterrupted periods of rule. The turbulent reigns of shehu Abubakar Garbai in 1900–1922 has for instance resulted in Garbai being counted as the 11th, 13th, 14th, and 15th shehu, because of depositions and retreats. From this it follows that Mustafa [Ibn Umar El-Kanemi|Mustafa ibn Umar al-Kanemi] is considered the 19th shehu of Bornu, and that the incumbent Abubakar ibn Umar Garba al-Kanemi is considered the 20th, despite being the 14th and 15th person, respectively, to hold the office.

Later ''shehu''s (1902–present)

Abubakar Garbai left for British Bornu, where the line of shehus continued to serve as shehus of the Borno Emirate, a traditional state in Borno State, Nigeria. Dikwa, which fell under French rule, was placed under a junior branch of the family, beginning with Abubakar Garbai's relative Sanda Mandarama. Sanda Mandarama's successors continue to rule the separate Dikwa Emirate as shehus, also a traditional state in Borno State.
The British suggested that Abubakar Garbai take up residence at Mafoni, though he instead selected Monguno as his temporary seat, wishing to maintain a degree of independence and separate himself from the British military. The people of Bornu, and Abubakar Garbai himself, appear to initially have been under the impression that the British presence was a temporary affair, though the shehu agreed to certain British provisions, such as the abolition of slavery. It was originally intended to rebuild the old al-Kanemi capital at Kukawa. Abubakar Garbai moved there in 1903 and was invested as shehu among its ruins by Frederick Lugard in 1904. The ruined Kukawa was at the time however little more than "one large cornfield" and was no longer located along any major trade routes. The city also had an inadequate water supply and was inconvenient for the British since it was far from their major settlements. On 9 January 1907, Abubakar Garbai instead moved his capital to Yerwa, later called Maiduguri, which has since remained the capital of the Borno Emirate.

No.	Portrait	Name	Reign	Succession, notes	Seat
15		Abu Bakr ibn Ibrahim Kura al-Kanemi	2 April 1902 – 1922	Previously the last sovereign shehu. Formally appointed "Shehu of Borno" by the British on 2 April 1902 and invested as shehu in a ceremony at Kukawa by Frederick Lugard in 1904. Swore a official oath of allegiance to Britain only in 1904, with some conditions. Confirmed as chief of the indigenous administration in Borno in 1914, with autonomy on taxes, police, and law. Aided Britain during World War I with transport, funds, and military information.	Monguno Kukawa Maiduguri
16		Umar Sanda ibn Ibrahim Kura al-Kanemi	1922 – middle of 1937	Reinvested as shehu after Abubakar Garbai's death. Remembered for his involvement in the production of books on Bornuan history, used in schools in Borno State.	Maiduguri
17		Umar ibn Muhammad al-Kanemi	25 May 1937 – 29 December 1967	Son of Kyari. Previously served as shehu of Dikwa.	Maiduguri
18		Umar ibn Abubakar Garbai al-Kanemi	27 March 1968 – 20 August 1974	Son of Abubakar Garbai	Maiduguri
19		Mustafa ibn Umar el-Kanemi	21 February 1975 – 21 February 2009	Son of Sanda Kyarimi. Selected to follow Umar ibn Abu Bakr in 1974 and invested as shehu by Governor Musa Usman in 1975.	Maiduguri
20		Abubakar ibn Umar Garba el-Kanemi	2 March 2009 – present	Son of Umar ibn Abubakar Garbai. Invested as shehu by Governor Ali Modu Sheriff in 2009.	Maiduguri